Windy but Golden Morning - 03 Nov 2024

Fourteen Golden Eagles flew by the Detroit River Hawk Watch yesterday. Today was supposed to bring cooling temperatures and N winds, so there was promise of more Golden Eagles to be seen. I decided to head down to hawk watch after completing morning chores and adjusting to the overnight time change.

Brian Beauchene had reported 6 Lapland Longspurs at the Antennae Farm so I took a drive down Haggerman Road on the way to Lake Erie Metropark. Winds were blowing and there was little to see until I passed by the plowed field east of the fence line. A half-dozen Horned Larks scattered from the road and several more from the field to my left. Cruising slowly I was able to find at least six Lapland Longspurs in the field and possibly more when more "lark-spurs" took off to the south side of the road. Bobby Irwin would report a single Snow Bunting later in the day.

Antenna Farm, Monroe, Michigan, US
Nov 3, 2024 9:00 AM - 9:21 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.2 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Pt sunny, windy, cool 53F
3 species

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)  2
Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris)  12
Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus)  6     Continuing in field east of antennae farm. May be more. Mixed flock w larks.

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S201254725

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

I then headed to Detroit River Hawk Watch with the hopes of seeing some Golden Eagles. When I arrived at the Lake Erie Metropark boat launch at 9:30 am the group of Bill and Michelle Peregord and Michael Patrikeev had already seen 5!

Winds were blowing from the NW at a stiff 15-20 mph so tracking birds was tough, and birds that were flying by were coming fast. Luckily, I'd get in on the action and help to count 4 more by 11:30 am when I had to leave. All birds were at scope view, but Michelle picked up one Golden Eagle flying in the "mashed potato" clouds just above us. I was able to get the camera on the single bird and catch some distant shots w/ the 600/4 and 1.4 TC.

Red-tailed Hawks were flying today, as well. All were passing way to the north due to the strong winds. The camera was being used to help identify these "tucked" birds that were blasting by and trying to avoid scope ID.

One "tucked" bird did not need help with identification. It was flying against the stiff wind and went into a stoop to go after a group of gulls before blasting by us to the south. Peregrine Falcon!

The count would finish with another 16 Golden Eagles by day's end, but they had to wait for the mid-day S winds to shift back to E winds mid-afternoon. 

Lake Erie Metropark--Detroit River Hawk Watch, Wayne, Michigan, US

Nov 3, 2024 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Protocol: Stationary
Checklist Comments:     Michael Patrikeev, Bill and Michelle Peregord, Moxie, Don Sherwood; ptly sunny, cool, windy (NE 15-20 mph), 54F
22 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  6
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  2
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  6
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  22
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)  1
Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)  3
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  15
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)  4
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  6
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  2
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)  56
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)  4     Circling to north of site, distant, scoped birds; black w/ white wing patches, white tails w/ black terminal tail band, and golden nape; Detroit River Hawk Watch had 9 by 11 am. Pics.
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)  1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  2
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)  1
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  8
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  1
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)  1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  2
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  12
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  6

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S201316870

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)